Introduction Days
In your first days in Gothenburg, there will be lots to do and absorb. This page provides information about activities for newly arrived students that are held at the start of the semester. The University Welcome Programme, social activities arranged by student buddies and student associations. There is also quite a lot of administrative tasks you need to take care of as a new student.
Welcome Programme
The International Student Welcome Programme is held at the beginning of each semester. The programme of events and activities provides international students with practical information about the University and living in Gothenburg. It is also a perfect opportunity to meet other international students and Student Buddies from all over the world.
We officially welcome you to the University of Gothenburg. You will be able to ask the presenters questions via the Q&A feature in Zoom.
Programme:
- Welcome Speech
- Student Portal and University e-services
- Servicecenter and the GU card
- Studies at the University of Gothenburg
- Student health care provider Feelgood introduces their services
- Student unions, what are they and why are they so important
- Mecenat followed by Welcome Services
- Unimeet Gothenburg
- Swedish language courses
- Unit for Academic Language (ASK)
- University Library
Spring semester 2023
You can watch the recording of the spring 2023 Welcome Day here:
Autumn semester 2023
Date: 15 August
Time: 10:00-12:00 or 17:00-19:00 CEST (you choose which time you wish to attend)
Venue: Zoom Webinar
Important: The Welcome Day is an online event!
Arrival Days, 17 & 19 August
We offer pickup service on 17 August and on 19 August. You will be dropped off at Studenternas Hus (Götabergsgatan 17), where you can pick up your Welcome Pack and chat with student buddies.
If you are an exchange student with a UGOT student housing contract or a contract from Welcome Services, you will receive your keys as part of the pickup service, and you will then be dropped off at your housing area.
Time
The last bus will leave the airport for our office at 20:00 in the evening. We therefore recommend that the flight should be scheduled to land no later than 19:30.
We aim to have staff at the airport from 10:00 in the morning. The first bus will leave when it's full.
Arriving outside of the Arrival Days?
It is easy to find your way from the airport, bus and train station, as well as the ferry terminals, via public transport or the airport coaches. Read more about this on our transportation site. If you need to book accommodation before the start of the semester, you can find hostels and hotels on Goteborg.com's website.
Transportation and getting around
This event takes place in the beautiful auditorium inside the University’s main building. There are no longer any classes taught there, but academic ceremonies and other special events are held there throughout the academic year.
During the day, we will tackle two main topics, starting with Swedish study culture. For this part of the programme, we hand the stage over to Oskar MacGregor, senior lecturer in cognitive neuroscience at the University of Skövde, and language advisors from our own Unit for Academic Language. Together they will shine a light on Swedish study culture, effective study techniques, academic writing in Sweden, and more. We are also pleased to be joined by current international students who will share their views and experiences.
The second topic is Living in Sweden. We are still in the process of signing on speakers for this part, but you can expect us to cover life on a student budget, life in Sweden with a focus on intercultural competence, and more. Of course, the current international students will be back on stage again to share their views and experiences.
You will be able to ask questions of the speakers and students after the presentations.
Date: 22 or 23 August (you choose one day to attend; you don’t attend both day!)
Time: 10:00-15:00 CEST
Venue: University main building at Universitetsplatsen 1
At the Welcome Fair for new international students, student organisations, university support functions and other activity groups are present.
Joining a student organisation is a great way to meet new friends, get to know the city and settle in to your new student life in Gothenburg.
Time: TBA
Venue: Studenternas Hus (Götabergsgatan 17)
Pick up your Welcome Pack
The Welcome Pack is a tote bag with content, handed out exclusively to international students. If you see anyone with one of these bags out in the city, you have probably just spotted another international student!
The contents includes a map of the city, a University of Gothenburg reflective slap wrap, a list of things to do while in Gothenburg, as well as various information about, for instance, public transport and recycling. Some of the information is available in digital form only, via a QR-code.
Spring semester 2023
From 18 January onwards, you can collect your Welcome Pack from one of the University’s Servicecenters during their regular opening hours.
Opening hours for Servicecenter
Autumn semester 2023
The design of the bag is currently being refreshed through a design contest among the University’s design students. If all goes well, we will have something really special to present you with when you begin your studies in August or later.
